The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-11
ARCHES REFORMATION.
a Fateful Experience Down in the
Peggy Pit.

Peggy Pit.
Archie Cray's reformation began
that June day in England. We were
both golfers, and had been working
together in the Philadelphia colliery.
near Durham. for year and six
months. II was slaves work and poor
pay. besides.
Archie was but one-and-twenty. yet
he was called ..thclwOrst man in the
mines" an that WAS sayin' deal.
for there was many black heart down
in the Peggy pit. Three hundred an
fifty Of us ia al. hard at work that
acknowledgement day.
don't 90 down this mOrnin'r'
pleaded Archic's sister Dora. whom he
met just out of Durham. IL can't get
rid OF the awful thought that some
things going to happen" she said,
low and trcmblin'.
'An' sposin' it dOes?' returned
Archie Cray, with coarse laugh.
you're far too squeamish for a min
er's sister. Go back to town. We can
take care of ourselves, an need no in
reference"
With that. lie stalked on towards the
mines. But stopp'd with bit Of
cOmfortiH' word: I'VE are in Gods
hands, Miss Dora. and if any thing
should happen try to remember that
He doeth all things WELL and in case
of an accident l promise to look out
for Archie. He isn't bad lad ut
heart. It's the bad company that's
transformed an dcformcd him. You
must pray for us both" An with a
fearful Il will from Dora We parted.
At noon. that dag. something did
happen. A fire broke out in the col
liery, caused by an explosion IF fire
damp i'll the Peggy" An one wild
cry Of horror assembled To- the pits
mouth from hundreds of blackened
lips.
Archie was close beside me. but
could no: see his face for the smoke.
Jack, " he gTOaned. "Dora's warning
was n prophecy. Wen die in the pit
like sheep"
Life remains to us yet," said ], ian
there's CLEAN Of hope in that"
But. indeed, It was only CLEAN. |
Some of OUr number had been killed !
instantly. We stumbled over their /
bodies rs we CROPPED about in the dark !
ness an confusion. Many were down |
on their knees prayin' for the first /
time in their sinful lives.
1t was au awful moment Far up
overhead we could hear the faint
sounds of the outside cOmmOtion. /
Then came echoes of weepin' and
wailin'. an we knew that distracted
friends anl relatives had already
reached the colliery. l wondered if
swees Dora Cray was among them. her
blue eyes dim an tear-filled.
An Archie was wOndcrin' too. eff
Dora's up there, the suspense may kill
herr he cried hOarsely. "She's as
delicate rs flower. IN. she loves me,
worthless as l am. Jack Morton" he
added in a changed tone, ''if God
spares my ill-spent life this day.
promise you. an Him. it shall be q
different one in the future"
Its solomon covenant, lad. an
mind you keep it"' said i, with u hearty
hand pressure.
An just then dull heavy sounds
came down the shaft. tellin' that the
''reliefs" were 1t work, an prcparin'
for descent
But thiS was followed by an awful
rush Of water from the Sutton seam
We lied u the farthcst corner, hut like
an unrclen;ing foe, il slowly but SURE
" approached Us.
Death by drowning now seemed our
lsscatencd doom. But the work Of
rcscac had alrcady begun. The men
with largo families depcRdon' upon
'hcn. weRt up first. II was Arch'e's
suggestion. am hoRored thu lad fOT u.